Energy Saving Trust

Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation jointly funded by the British Government and the private sector in order to help fight climate change by promoting the sustainable use of energy, energy conservation and to cut carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom. The activities of the Trust include:

* Consumer level advice on climate change, energy saving, domestic power generation, waste, and water conservation.
* Advice to the businesses on green fleet management
* Technical guidance and advice for the building industry, local authority and other housing providers.
* Energy Saving Trust manages phase 1 of the Low Carbon Building Programme which provides grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies in a range of buildings to include households, community organisations, public, private and the non-profit sectors.
* Community Action for Energy (CAfE). A programme that is designed to promote and facilitate local community-based energy projects.
* Energy Saving Trust runs a network of local/regional advice centres across the UK.
* Policy Analysis and Research

=Advice and Guidance=

Consumer Level

Climate Change

Over 40% of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, the main greenhouse gas which causes climate change, actually come from the things we do every day. We are already seeing the effects of climate change in the UK and worldwide. Winters are becoming milder, and rainfall patterns are shifting, making droughts and floods more common.

Things like leaving lights on unnecessarily or overfilling the kettle all waste energy and result in needless carbon dioxide emissions.

The Energy Saving Trust provides information on the impact we are having on climate change and what we can do to help fight it.

Energy Saving Advice

Under a Government scheme, energy suppliers are obliged to encourage people to use energy more efficiently by helping with the supply and costs of installation of energy saving measures and providing advice on energy efficiency.

The Energy Saving Trust offers advice on saving energy through the following means: efficient use of energy at home (e.g. switching off lights in empty rooms, boiling only what is required in a kettle etc.), installation of energy saving measures (insulation), renewables, transport choices, reduction of waste (recycling uses less energy), preventing food waste and water conservation

The Energy Saving Trust offers two main channels for delivering advice and information: a freephone number - 0800 512 012 and website, www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

Home Improvement

Simple energy saving home improvements can save money, improve comfort and help fight climate change.

Because around half of heat loss in a typical home is through the walls and loft, this is a very important area for consideration. Home insulation techniques include cavity and solid wall insulation, floor insulation, loft insulation, draught proofing, tank and pipe insulation and glazing all help save energy.

Boilers account for around 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home. Fitting a new high efficiency condensing boiler with full heating controls, can significantly cut a home’s carbon dioxide emissions and save as much as £270 a year.

Home Power Generation

Renewable energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and biomass heaters are becoming increasingly popular. These are effective alternatives to fossil fuels and help to reduce your home's carbon dioxide emissions. As a whole in the UK renewable, or 'green' electricity, accounts for just 4% of energy production at present, but is set to grow over the coming years.

In the UK homeowners may be eligible for grants to implant renewable energy technology in the home. The Energy Saving Trust provides in depth advice on eligibility and obtaining grants as well as information on these technologies.

Housing & Buildings

Technical Guidance for Building Professionals

The Energy Saving Trust works with building professionals involved in designing, specifying, planning or installing to help promote the sustainable use of energy in homes.

The Energy Saving Trust sets energy efficiency standards for the housing industry that go beyond current building regulations. Covering good, best and advanced practice, they provide an integrated package of measures for all aspects of new build and refurbishment.

Local Authorities

Local authorities have a vital role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As community leaders, service providers and the planning authority, local authorities can help to tackle climate change across the breadth of their activities. The introduction in the new national performance framework of an area wide carbon dioxide emissions indicator means that local authorities in England will be assessed on their mitigation activities. As part of this, housing associations also have a firm role in achieving sustainable energy in domestic housing. The Energy Saving Trust offers a range of advice, support and services designed specifically for local authorities and housing associations to help meet the challenge.

The Nottingham Declaration

The declaration is a voluntary pledge by UK councils to address the issues of climate change. It represents a high-level, broad statement of commitment that any council can make to its own community. The declaration was originally launched in October 2000 at a conference in Nottingham with 200 leaders, chief executives and senior managers of UK local government.

The Low Carbon Building Programme

The Energy Saving Trust manages phase 1 of the Low Carbon Building Programme which provides grants for the installation of micro generation technologies in a range of buildings to include households, community organisations, public, private and the non-profit sectors.

Transport

Zytek is currently developing the all-electric Smart EV A Smart Forfour has been converted into a plug-in hybrid by Lithium Technology Corporation and Zytek Systems. The lithium-ion battery can propel the vehicle up to mph|84 and last on its own for up to mile|20. The engine is a combination of a 68 horsepower, 1.5 liter, 3-cylinder turbo charged diesel engine and two high-efficiency permanent-magnet electric motors. It was awarded by the Energy Saving Trust for the “Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge” project [http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/a-plug-in-hybrid-that-can-go-84/] .

Fleet Consultancy

The Energy Saving Trust offer free green fleet reviews to provide organisations with tailored fleet management advice to help lower running costs, reduce environmental impact and enhance corporate social responsibility. Organisations operating a fleet of 50 or more vehicles (20 in Scotland) are eligible to sign up for a free review. Smaller fleets are offered a free telephone fleet consultancy service .

Travel Planning

Planning your travel effectively can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and have cost, health and environmental benefits. Free travel plans are available to organisations in Scotland and offers ways to encourage more sustainable travel choices. The Energy Saving Trust also offers advice on alternative travel and car sharing.

Local Advice Centres

The Energy Saving Trust advice centre service was first set up in 1996 to deliver energy efficiency advice. There is now a network of 21 advice centres across the UK, offering consumers a one stop shop of advice and information on energy efficiency, renewables, transport, water and waste.

Community

Community Action for Energy (CAfE) is a programme from the Energy Saving Trust that promotes and facilitates local community-based energy projects. Membership of the network is free and offers news on community-based energy initiatives, information on funding opportunities and training sessions.

=Policy Work=

The Energy Saving Trust provides independent evidence-based policy analysis around the areas of household energy efficiency, low-carbon transport, mass market renewables and micro generation. They influence public policy by responding to consultations from UK Government including the devolved administrations, parliamentary select committees, the European Commission, regulators and other agencies. The Energy Saving Trust also undertakes major research to inform their policy position - research currently funded includes work on smart metering and public engagement on climate change issues.

=Evaluation and Accreditation=

The Energy Saving Trust manages robust accreditation services such as the Energy Saving Recommended logo, which is now widely recognised and used as a mark on energy efficient appliances.

As well as evaluating the impacts of their own programmes, the Energy Saving Trust provides evaluation expertise to others.

=The Organisation=

History

The Energy Saving Trust was established following the 1992, Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which highlighted for the first time the real threat of climate change on a global scale,

The following year, the UK Government established the Energy Saving Trust and set a target for reducing UK emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the greenhouse gas responsible for climate change - by 20 per cent of 1990 levels by 2010.

As well as the Head Office in London the Energy Saving Trust also operates regional headquarters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Members

Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation jointly funded by the British Government and the private sector. Its current members are:

Government

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, The Secretary of State for Transport , The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , The First Minister for Scotland

Private Sector

BG Group plc, BG Microgen, BP Oil UK Ltd, Centrica plc, EDF Energy plc, Innogy plc, Johnson Matthey, National Grid Transco plc, Northern Ireland Electricity, Phoenix Natural Gas, Powergen plc, Scottish and Southern Energy, ScottishPower plc

ee also

*Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom
*Energy policy of the United Kingdom
* [http://www.carbontrust.co.uk Carbon Trust]

External links

* [http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk Official Energy Saving Trust Website]
* [http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy_saving_products/about_energy_saving_recommended_products Energy Saving Recommended]
* [http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/your_impact_on_climate_change/the_impact_of_climate_change_in_the_uk Climate Change in the UK]